Chapter 4

As they stood on the rooftop, their tasks completed, the group's attention shifted to the street below. In the distance, scattered zombies roamed, their slow, aimless movements gradually drawing them closer to the mall. While their numbers were still relatively small, the growing horde was an ominous sign of the challenges they faced.

The scene widened, capturing the group's perspective as they gazed down at the approaching threat. The cityscape around them was filled with eerie silence, broken only by the shuffling of the undead.

The next morning.

As Mark attempted to rise without waking Anna, she suddenly pulled him back, encircling him with her legs in a half-conscious embrace. Groggily, she mumbled, "Sleep more," her words soft and drowsy, conveying her desire to linger in the comfort of his presence.

Mark couldn't help but chuckle at Anna's sleepy plea. He leaned down and planted a gentle, playful kiss on her nose before slipping out of the bed, leaving her to continue her peaceful slumber.

As he steps into the furniture aisle, he checks his smartphone, which he retrieved from his dimensional storage. The device's multifunctionality comes in handy as he browses through different multiverse networks, catching up on news and checking for any signs of help or rescue.

The television signals inside the mall have gone dark, leaving the group without access to the news or any external information.

In the common area of the mall, Michael, Kenneth, Cj, Bart, and Terry are each occupied with various tasks. Michael is carefully cleaning and maintaining their weapons, ensuring they remain functional.

Kenneth is watching over the entrance, vigilant for any signs of trouble. Cj and Bart engage in a lighthearted conversation, displaying signs of camaraderie, while Terry focuses on examining their available supplies.

Mark acknowledges each of them with a nod as he passes by, his focus on the increasing numbers of zombies gathering outside the mall. The sight is unsettling, as it becomes evident that their situation is growing more precarious with each passing day.

He makes his way to the rooftop, hoping for a better vantage point to assess the situation. Gazing out at the front of the mall, he observes the growing horde of zombies

Mark sat on the rooftop, taking a moment to relax amid the situation. He retrieved his thermos bottle, taking a sip of the hot coffee inside, and lit a cigarette. As he enjoyed his brief respite, he glanced at his phone, which was now displaying a recorded video of himself from the previous day.

With a few gestures on his phone, Mark changed the point of view within the video, zooming in and out to get different angles. The phone's capabilities allowed him to manipulate the recorded content seamlessly, and he could even switch between perspectives effortlessly.

Mark's phone offered a unique feature that allowed him to view recorded videos from multiple perspectives, zoom in or out, and even change the point of view on the fly. This feature was particularly useful for reviewing past events or capturing memorable moments from various angles.

Mark continued to watch the video, appreciating the flexibility and control his phone provided for reliving these experiences. It was a small comfort in the midst of the chaos that surrounded them.

Mark was engrossed in watching a particularly intimate moment from the previous day when he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder.

Startled, he jumped, causing his phone to slip from his hand. The device tumbled through the air, making a series of unfortunate clanging sounds before disappearing down a drain on the rooftop. Mark froze, his eyes fixed on the drain, his heart pounding.

Anna, realizing what had just happened, looked at Mark with wide eyes, her face a mix of concern and guilt. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mark," she stammered, clearly mortified by the accident.

Mark tried to maintain his composure, but he couldn't help but let out a comically strained smile. "Well, I guess that's one way to drop the phone," he said, attempting to inject humor into the situation, though his disappointment was evident.

They both shared an awkward laugh, knowing that in the midst of their dire circumstances, losing the phone seemed like a trivial, yet unfortunate, misadventure.

Anna's warm embrace and affectionate kisses helped alleviate Mark's initial disappointment. Her comforting presence was a soothing balm to his momentary frustration. But as he continued to mope about the lost phone, a flicker of realization crossed his face.

"Wait a minute," Mark said, suddenly brightening up. He pulled away from Anna gently and reached for the Dimensional Storage on his belt. With a few deft motions, he summoned his phone back to his hand.

Anna's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you do that?"

Mark chuckled, feeling a renewed sense of relief. "It's one of the phone's nifty features – the recall function. As long as it's within range, I can bring it back to me."

With his phone back in his possession, Mark couldn't help but feel grateful for this unique capability. It seemed that even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, some things had a way of working out.

Anna's eyes sparkled with amazement and curiosity when Mark explained the recall function of his phone. She couldn't hide her fascination at the incredible abilities that this mysterious device possessed.

"Wow, that's really something," Anna exclaimed, a hint of wonder in her voice. She leaned in closer, her eyes fixated on Mark's phone. "It's like magic. What else can it do?"

As Mark shared more about his phone's capabilities, he couldn't resist the opportunity to pull Anna onto his lap. He began showcasing some of its features, including the playback of their intimate activity from the previous day. Anna's face turned a bright shade of crimson as she watched, feeling incredibly embarrassed.

Mark couldn't contain his laughter, and in the midst of their shared laughter, Anna playfully bit him on the shoulder in her playful embarrassment. Mark hugged her even tighter, cherishing this moment of lightheartedness. Their laughter echoed across the empty rooftop

Mark and Anna shared a quiet, intimate moment on the rooftop. They sipped from Mark's thermos cup, enjoying their respective coffee preferences—his, a sweet milk coffee, and hers, a black coffee. Together, they sat close, their shoulders touching, and Mark created an earphone for them to share as they listened to music on his phone.

It was a simple, comforting moment of togetherness amidst the zombies groaning below them, finding solace in each other's presence and the music that played in their ears.

Suddenly, the sound of a moving truck and gunshots pierced the air.

Their attention shifted towards the source, where a truck was circling back and forth.

Some time later, the other group joined them on the rooftop, and together, they watched the moving truck below.

Anna, with determination in her voice, exclaimed, "We should help them."

CJ, visibly angry, retorted, "Are you crazy? We don't know who's in that truck. It's too dangerous!"

Michael sided with CJ, nodding in agreement.

Anna persisted, her resolve unwavering, while CJ's frustration boiled over into curses. His menacing demeanor hinted that if he still had his gun, he might have used it to emphasize his point.

Mark intervened, gripping CJ's shoulder forcefully and fixing him with a stern gaze. CJ relented under his intimidating stare.

Even as Michael echoed CJ's concerns, Anna cast a pleading look toward Mark. He responded with a reassuring smile and instructed her to create a sign to guide the truck driver to the docking area.

As Mark descended from the rooftop, he noticed that Michael, being the natural good guy he was, decided to follow as well, albeit with a sense of responsibility toward their group. Mark acknowledged Michael with a nod, and together, they made their way down.

In the docking area, Mark and Michael stood by the door, peering outside and waiting for the truck to arrive. After a few minutes of anticipation, the truck backed up into the docking area without any issues.

Michael was eager to go out and check on the driver, but Mark restrained him, knowing they were safe because he had already observed two figures on top of the truck who had climbed the fire escape.

As the shutter was lifted, the newcomers arrived, and Mark's attention was immediately drawn to two attractive females among them.

Monica is a beautiful blonde with long, wavy hair and captivating green eyes. She had a slim and attractive figure, drawing attention effortlessly.

And

Nicole, has shoulder-length red hair, giving her a distinctive appearance. She possesses a slender physique.

Mark noticed Nicole's blush when he looked at her.

While with her playful demeanor. His irresistible aura were clearly having an effect on both of them. With a confident grin, he decided to engage in some light flirting.

"Hey there, guys," Mark said with a wink in Monica's direction. "Looks like we've got ourselves some new friends. I'm Mark, by the way."

Nicole's father extended a hand and introduced himself, "I'm Frank, and this is my daughter, Nicole."

Monica, still wearing a flirtatious smile, responded, "I'm Monica." She winks back.

As they got to the 2nd floor, Mark and Monica continue their playful flirting. Anna observes this and feels a pang of jealousy, but Mark reassures her with a kiss before she tends to the injured survivors, utilizing her nursing skills. Monica, however, persists in her flirty behavior towards Mark, seemingly undeterred by his relationship with Anna.

Mark and Monica continued their flirtatious banter.

Monica smirked and said, "You know, Mark, You have quite the gift for making people feel at ease I can see why that woman is so taken with you."

Mark chuckled, "Well, I have my moments. Besides I'm already taken." Making his voice a little louder so Anna can hear him. What an actor.

Monica leaned in a bit closer, "True, but that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun, right?" She pinched his ass.

Mark, momentarily taken aback by Monica's boldness, couldn't help but notice her getting closer and inhaling his scent.

He felt it's a pity. He could have taken her somewhere more private.

Even though he was enticed by Monica's advances, he couldn't just leave Anna.

One of the new survivors is bitten. She's already dying. She'll turn and attack Anna so he needed to stay so that there's nothing happens to her.

As they watched Anna tend to the injured, Monica grew bored. She leaned on Mark's shoulder and gave him a pinch on his ass to get his attention.

Mark glanced at her. She smirks at him. Mark shakes his head.

As Anna leaned in to ensure the fat woman was truly deceased, he excused himself to Monica. He then approached Anna.

"She's already gone." He said to her calmly.

She nods to him and went to Nicole's father, who's also bitten.

Moments later the fat woman sat up. Startling everyone. Her eyes already cloudy. With a snarl, she lunged at Mark, who had already anticipated her sudden attack.

Without hesitation, Mark drew his weapon and aimed it on her forehead. The gunshot pierced the air and the fat woman dropped heavily to the ground.

Mark, gathered the group in a hushed circle. His eyes scanned their faces, carrying the weight of the message he was about to deliver.

"Listen up, everyone," Mark began, his voice serious. "I need to tell you something crucial. We've seen it happen before with Andre – if you're bitten, you'll turn into one of those things. We can't afford to let our guard down. Bites are a death sentence, and we can't risk anyone becoming a threat to the group."

After Mark's words, a heavy silence fell upon the group, their faces reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

Nicole's father, who had been bitten earlier, knew the grim fate that awaited him.

Nicole appeared worried, and her father, knowing what the bite meant for him, began to sweat nervously.

Nicole embraced her father, tears in her eyes, while he comforted her, knowing what was to come.

Mark, Anna, and Michael exchanged silent glances, understanding the situation.

Mark discreetly slipped away, not wanting to intrude on the emotional moment between Nicole and her father. He doesn't want to be the bad guy to Nicole. He left it to Michael or Kenneth to figure out what to do with her father.

Anna, always perceptive, noticed Mark's departure and playfully pouted, a silent plea for him to stay. Mark gave her an awkward smile before making his exit.

Monica's gaze darted to Mark as he quietly slipped away, and without hesitation, she rose from her spot and followed him.

She spotted him entering the restroom and cast a quick glance around. Seeing no one else, she hastened to follow. The clicking sound of the lock echoed.